Sizing-machine.



B. F. TUSSING.

SIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16. 1916.

- 1,21 9,056. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

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B. F. TUSSING.

SIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6, I9I6.

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BENJAMIN F. TUSSING, OF FB'UITLAND, IDAHO.

SIZING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. TUssiNG, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Fruitland, int-he county of Canyon and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sizing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accomp a-nying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sizing machines and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with fruits and more particularly apples; and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the fruit is sized or separated in accordance to weight.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a rotatable ele ment having mounted thereon a tiltable cup or tray to receive an apple or other fruit and which is normally maintained in substantially a. horizontal position under the influence of a slidable poise together with means whereby the poise is shifted relatively to the tray or cup so that at a predetermined point the weight of the apple or other fruit will overbalance the poise to effect a discharge of the apple or other fruit.

The invention has for a still further object to provide a. novel and improved device of this general character including a stationary table and an element rotatable relative to the table and provided with a rocking or tilting cup or tray adapted to receive an apple or other fruit togetherwith coacting means carried by the table and rotatable element for causing the weight of the apple or other fruit to rock or overbalance the cup or tray when the rotatable element has been caused to bring said cup or tray to a predetermined point. I

Furthermore, it is an object of the inven tion to provide a novel and improved clevice of this general character including a movable element provided with a tiltable tray adapted to overbalanee when the movable element has carried the cup or tray to a predetermined point, together with means to receive the apple or other fruit discharged by the cup or tray when the same is tilted. The invention also has for an object to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a movable element provided with a plurality oftiltable trays together with a chute delivering to said trays, said chute and movable element being provided with coacting means whereby a single delivery to each of the trays or cups is afiorded.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved sizing machine whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention 'may be the better understood, I will. now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a sizing machine constructed'in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and of the sorting table coacting therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; 7

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the feeding chute herein embodied;

Fig. 41 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating the elevating mechanism delivering to the feed member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the controlling member coacting with the feed member to assure a single delivery;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating the means as herein embodied for operating the controlling member;

Fig. 7 is a view in top plan of the table herein disclosed with the collecting members applied thereto;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in top plan of the movable or rotatable element herein included, the tilting cup or tray being omitted;

Fig. 9 is a, sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in side elevat-ion of the assorting table as herein disclosed; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through said table.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, T denotes a table preferably circular in top plan and of any preferred dimensions and supported a predetermined height above the ground or other surface through the medium of the f 'ame F. Supported by the frame F at the axial center of the table T is the vertically disposed shaft 1 operatively engaged with the shaft 2 adapted to be coupled, as indicated at 3, with any suitable source of power.

The shaft 1 extends a predetermined dis tance above the table T and has affixed thereto the movable or rotatable element E.

As herein disclosed, the rotatable element E includes the hub 42 adapted to be afiixed to the shaft 1 in any desired manner but as herein disclosed through the medium of the clamping screw 5, whereby said element E may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 1 in order to properly position the same relative to the table T.

Coacting with the hub 4 are the radiating spokes 6 having interposed between their outer extremities the blocks 7 and coacting with said blocks 7 is the rim 8. The spokes at predetermined points inwardly of the blocks 7 are further connected by the strips 9.

The block 7 and the strip 9 between each pair of spokes 6 are connected by the trackway 10 also radially disposed relative to the hubfl and comprising parallel members affording a space therebetween.

Supported by the trackway 10 is a slide 11 provided with the depending pin or shaft 12 upon which is mounted the roller let, said roller 1-1- being positioned below the slide 11 and for a purpose which will hereinafter be more particularly referred to.

The block 7 at a point in alinement with the trackway 10 is provided with a bracket 15 which affords a fulcrum for the beam 16, the forward or outer end of said beam supporting the cup or tray 17 to receive an apple or other fruit for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

Slidably engaged with the beam 16 inwardly of the bracket 15 is the poise 18 which, when the beam 16 is in its normal or substantially horizontal position, is positioned between the upstanding guide members 19 and 20 secured to the upper face of the slide 11 adjacent the forward end thereof.

As herein disclosed, the guide members 19 and 20 are formed of a single strand or length of material bent upon itself to afford the guide member 20 which is substantially in the form of an inverted U with the opposite extremities thereof extending upwardly to afford the guide 19, while the portion of said material intermediate the guides 19 and 20 are engaged by the clamp whereby said guides are held to the slide 11. The beam 16 is disposed through the guides 19 and 20 and the construction of the guide 20 serves to afiord a means whereby the rocking or tilting movement of the beam when the weight of the apple or other fruit within the cup or tray 17 overbalances the poise 18.

Adj acent spokes 6 have engaged therewith the rest or stop 22 with which the inner end of the beam 16 contacts when in its normal position and whereby the same is held from passing below substantially the horizontal.

Mounted upon the upper face of the table T are the cams 23 herein disclosed as-twelve in number and arranged successively at increased distances from the axial center of said table or more particularly the axial center of the movable or rotatable element E. The rollers 14 of the slides 11 are adapted to contact with the cams 23 whereby said slides will be gradually forced outwardly with a corresponding inward movement being imparted to the poise 18 upon the beam 16, and when the poise 18 has been caused to move inwardly of the beam 16 a distance insufficient to overbalan'ce the weight of the cups or trays 17 with the apples or other fruit thereon, it will be perceived that said cups or trays 17 will be caused to tilt and the apples or fruit carried thereby discharged therefrom. By this arrangement it will be at once self-evident that the apples or other fruit will be sized according to weight.

In order to collect the apples or fruit as discharged from the cups or trays 17 1 provide the periphery of the table T with the baskets 2%, said baskets 2% being of the same number as the cams 23 for a purpose which is believed to be self-evident.

As herein embodied, each of the cams 23 comprises an upstanding plate disposed longitudinally on a predetermined curvature and provided with the supporting plate 25 having the longitudinally disposed slot 26 through which is disposed a conventional clamping member 27. By this arrangement it will be at once observed that the position of the cam 23 may be readily adjusted in v accordance with the dictates of practice. It will also be understood that the rollers 14 contact with the outer faces of the cams 23.

28 denotes an elongated cam positioned intermediate the inner and outer cams 23 and the rollers 14: engage the inner face of said cam 28 in order to return the slides 11 to the limit of their inward movement, whereby the beams 16 will assume their normal or substantially horizontal position.

As is particularly shown in Fig. 7 it is to be noted that the inner or low point of the cam 28 is capable of flexure so that the position of said inner end portion or low point may be conveniently adjusted as may be required through the medium of the plate 29 provided with the longitudinally disposed slot 30 through which is disposed a conventional clamping member 31.

Positioned to one side of the frame F is a supplemental frame S which includes a feeding chute 32 having coacting with its discharge end the flexible guard or shield 33 preferably of fabric. The chute 32 serves to discharge apples or other fruit upon the trays or cups 17 as the sam e pass beneath the discharge end of said chute, and in order to prevent said trays or cups 17 tilting as the fruit drops thereon, I provide the table T with the trackway 34 of predetermined length and with which the outer end portions of the beams 16 are adapted to contact as the same pass beneath the discharge end of the chute 32.

It is also of material advantage and importance to provide means whereby the discharge of the apples or other fruit from the chute 32 be a single delivery and for this purpose I provide the controlling member G particularly illustrated in Figs. 3, 5 and 6.

As herein set forth, the controlling member C comprises a rock beam 35 supported by the sides of the feeding chute 32 and extending therebeyond and which underlies a recess 36 formed in the lower or discharge end of the bottom of the chute 32. The beam 35 is provided with the forwardly directed extensions 37 produced on such incline as to prevent the passage of an apple or other fruit therebeyond, and said beam 35 is also provided with a rearwardly disposed extension 38 which, when the beam 38 is rocked forwardly to permit the discharge of an apple or other fruit, is elevated a suflicient distance above the bottom of the chute 32 as to retard the travel of the apples or other fruit within the chute 32. It is also to be observed that the controlling member C serves in the nature of a basket and is of such size as to afford a seat for a single apple or other fruit.

The controlling member C is normally maintained with the extensions 37 upwardly disposed through the medium of the retractile member 39 coacting with a rock arm 40 carried by an extended portion of the beam 35. The opposite extended portion of the beam 35 is provided with the depending rock arm 41 with which is operatively engaged a link 42 also operatively engaged with the lever 43 pivotally engaged intermediate its length with a side of the chute 32. The lower end portion of the lever 43 is normally in the path of travel of the upstanding trip members 44 carried by the movable or rotatable element E.

The trip members 44 are so positioned relative to the trays or cups 17 as to cause a downward rocking movement being imparted to the controlling member C as a cup or tray 17 passes below the discharge of the chute 32 so that an apple or other fruit will be delivered to said cup or tray 17.

Delivering to the upper end of the chute 32 is the apron 45 disposed substantially perpendicular thereto and on a predetermined incline and delivering to said apron 45 is the wheel 46 provided in its periphery with the buckets or blades 47 which serve to bring the apples or other fruit up to the apron 45. The buckets or blades 47 coact with the runway 48 disposed on the requisite curvature. The wheel 46 is mounted upon the shaft 49 operatively connected, as at 50, with the shaft 2 whereby the desired rotation will be imparted to said wheel 46.

Delivering to the wheel 46 is the apron 51 also disposed on a predetermined downward incline and which leads from the assorting table A. The assorting table A comprises a plurality of troughs 52 preferably five in number and coacting with said troughs 52 is the endless conveyer 53, the coaction of said conveyer 53 with the troughs 52 being, it is thought, clearly shown in detail Figs. 1, 11 and 12. t is also desired that the 'conveyer 53 be operatively engaged, as at 54, with the shaft 2.

In practice the sorters are disposed at opposite sides of the table A and the apples vare caused to travel within the marginal troughs 52 through the medium of the deflector 55. As the apples travel along said outer or marginal troughs 52 the sorters will place the fancy or extra fancy apples or other fruit within the troughs immediately adjacent the'outer or marginal troughs and will place the grade C fruit within the central trough. The fruit carried forwardly within the central trough will be discharged through the opening 56 formed in the upper end of the apron 51 and be collected within a suitable receptacle (not shown) positioned therebeneath. The fancy and extra fancy apples or other fruit will be delivered upon the apron 51 and carried thereby to the wheel 46. The fruit will then be elevated by said wheel and carried through the medium of the apron 45 to the feeding chute 32.

As the trays or cups 17 pass beneath the discharge end of the feeding chute 32 a single apple or other fruit will be discharged to the cups or trays 17 under the influence of the controlling member 0. As the movable or rotatable element E travels away from the discharging chute 32, the apples or other fruit will be discharged from said cups or trays 17 at predetermined points in accordance with their weight and which point of discharge is under control of the poises 18 coacting with the beam 16, as has been hereinbefore set forth. The apples as discharged from the trays or cups 17 will be collected by the baskets 24 and it will at once be apparent that the apples or other fruit collected in each of the baskets 24 will be of substantially the same weight.

From the foregoing description, it is thought 'to be obvious that a sizing machine constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A. device of the character described comprising a table, an element rotatably supported thereby and provided with a radially disposed trackway, a slide supported by the trackway, a member depending from the slide; a tiltable beam carried by the rotatable element and provided at one end portion with a cup, a poise slidably engaged with the opposite end portion of the beam, means carried by the slide and coacting with the poise for moving said poise longitudinally of the beam in unison with and in the same general direction as the movement of the slide, and means carried by the table and coacting with the member depending from the slide for imparting movement to the slide upon movement of the rotatable element.

2. A device of the character described comprising a movable element, a tiltable beam carried thereby and provided at one end portion with a cup, a poise slidably engaged with the opposite end portion of the beam, a slide carried by the movable element and traveling longitudinally of the beam, means for imparting movement to the slide, and upstanding guide members carried by the slide and positioned in advance and to the rear of the poise whereby said poise is caused to move in unison with and in the same general direction as the slide.

3. A device of the character described comprising a movable element, a tiltable beam carried thereby and provided at one end portion with a cup, a poise slidably engaged with the opposite end portion of the beam, a slide carried by the movable element and traveling longitudinally of the beam, means for imparting movement to the slide, upstanding guide members carried by the slide and positioned in advance and to the rear of the poise whereby said poise is caused to move in unison with and in the same general direction as the slide, said guide members being formed of a single length of material bent upon itself to afford a guide member substantially in the form of an inverted U with the opposite extremities thereof extending upwardly, and means coacting with the intermediate portion thereof for clamping the same to the slide.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. TUSSING.

lVitnesses:

Ross KENNEDY, H. J. PRICHERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

